Apparatus for feeding electric furnace electrodes



Oct. 20,1931. JQG. MARSHALL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELECTRIC FURNACE ELECTRODES Filed March 31. 1930 INVENTOR, 4 BY am; a, 20, 1931 jPA'rEN'r JOIVFFICE A UNITED STATES .Lums e. nnsmn, or mom nus, New Your, assumes, ,r'o memo nrmuaercn. comm, aconrom'rzon or wmr vmemu APPARATUS 1'03 FEEDING ELECTRIC FURNACE ELECTRODE Application filed ma :1, 1980. Serial no.

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding without interruptin the furnace operation or diminishin the e ectrical input.

8 In electric urnaces as heretofore operated the electrodes are usually held in position by means of releasable clamps which are shifted from time to time as the electrode is consumed in the furnace. The shifting is done if the clamp is of the stationary type, by releasing shifted in order to avoid destroying them by the electrical are which results if they are too far released.

Morcove'r under the former practice the feeding of the electrode was necessaril made at intervals and the distance between t e electrode and the furnace charge varied more or less depending on the rate of electrode consumption and the intervals between feeding.

This is objectionable where uniform furnace conditions and electrical input are desired. By means of m invention the electrodes may be shifted without disturbing furnace operation and without varying or lessening the pressure of the contactclamps upon the electrodes, and the electrodes may be controllably shifted by any desired amount. A further object of my invention is to allow an approximately constant separation to .be maintained between the electrodes and the char A still further object of my invention is to provide remote control for electrode adjustment obviating the necessity of the furnace operators going onto the furnace to loosen clamps, etc. in order to feed the electrodes.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a vertical view partly in section of an apparatus embodying one modification of my invention.

The electrode 2, suspended in the furnace 1, by means of a clamp 3 comprising contact electrodes into an electric furnace and the ratchets 13 will reengage teeth on the plates 4.- held against the electrode 2 by means ofthe threaded bolts 5 and the band 6. The clamping mechanism is suspended from the annular frame 7 by means of the bolts 8, which mainbe in the form of tubes to allow water coo g of contact plates 4 by means of the water connections 19. The ennular frame 7 is supported by the structural members 9.

A. hydraulic or pneumatic. cylinder 10 is attached to the horizontal beam 11 and exerts pressure on the bearing plate 12. Ratchets 13 on the horizontal beam 11 engage teeth on the structural members 9. Hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is exerted through the 1pc or flexible tube 14. The apparatus may e conveniently suspended by means of chains 15 insulated at'16. V Y

In operation, the electric current is supplied to the electrodes 2 by means of cables 17 attached to the annular frame 7. To slip the electrode, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is applied to the cylinder 10. After suf-- .ficient pressure has been applied to bring the ratchets and teeth in immovable relation further pressure causes the electrode to slip on the contact plates 4 without in any way diminishing the pressure of the plates on the electrode or causing an interruption in-the flow of electrical ener Afterthe cylinder lOis expanded to its i511 length a release of the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure will allow the horizontal beam 11 to drop by gravity structural number 9 at a lower level. Reapplication of pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 10 will cause a repetition of the process and the electrode may be slipped any requisite amount.

In using my invention with electrodes which are made continuous by screwing one section of electrode into another as by means of a threaded connecting pin, the horizontal beam 11, the hydraulic cylinder 10 and the bearing plate 12 are removed to allow the placing of the new electrode section and connecting pin. After the insertion of a new section, the arts 10, 11 and 12 are replaced above it. tructural members 9 may be I made of such length as to allow the use of any convenient electrode section. By means of my invention the slipping of electrodes and the introduction of new electrode sections need in no way interfere with the continuous operation of the furnace.

It will be evident that various modifications in the assembly as shown can be made without de artin vention as efine I claim:

1. In an electric furnace an apparatus for feeding an electrode comprising in combination a clamptyieldingly holding said electrode, means for supporting said clamp in a stationary position with res ct to the furnace, an abutment adjustab y attachable to said clam Supporting means, and means between said abutment and the end of the e1ectrode operative to slide the electrode through said clamp.

2. In an electric furnace an apparatus for feeding an electrode comprising in combination a clamp yieldingly holdin said electrode, means for supporting sai clamp in a stationary position with respect to the fur-. nace, an abutment adjustably attachable to said clamp-supporting means, and fluid pressure means cooperating with said abutment to slide the electrode through said clamp.

3. In an electric furnace an apparatus for feeding an electrode comprising in combination a clamp yieldingly holding said electrode, a stationary support for said clamp, a member cooperating with said clamp support to form an adjustable abutment, and a fluid pressure cylinder cooperating with said abutment member and the end of the electrode to slide said electrode through said clamp.

l. In an electric furnace an apparatus for vertically feedingan electrode comprising in combination a clamp yieldingly holding said electrode, vertical stationary support memin the appended claims.

'- hers for said clamp having teeth on their inner opposed surfaces, a horizontal member havin ratchets thereon adapted to engage with tv e teethIon said support members and forman adjustable abutment, and a fluid pressure cylinder adapted in cooperation with said abutment member to exert sufiicient pressure on the end of the electrode to slide the same through said clamp.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my si ature.

JAMES s. MARsH A LL.

from the spirit of my in- 

